Drug Enforcement Administration

Seven People Charged In Multi-State Heroin Distribution Ring Based In Steubenville, Ohio

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - A federal grand jury in Columbus, Ohio, charged seven individuals for their roles in a Steubenville, Ohio, based heroin-trafficking operation.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, William J. Ihlenfeld, II, United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, Joseph P. Reagan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) Detroit Field Division, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of (FBI), Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane M. Hanlin and members of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force and the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force announced the indictment which was returned on October 20.

The yearlong investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement culminated in the seizure of eight firearms, three vehicles and approximately $110,000 of suspected narcotics proceeds.

According to court documents, investigators discovered this heroin trafficking group was responsible for street-level heroin sales in the Market Street public housing area of Steubenville, as well in Weirton, W.Va., Wheeling, W.Va. and Bellaire, Ohio.

All of the defendants are scheduled for arraignment at 1pm today before U.S. District Chief Judge Edmund A. Sargus.

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin is a federal crime punishable by 10 years to up to life in prison.

U.S. Attorneys Stewart and Ihlenfeld commended the cooperative efforts of law enforcement, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Steve Vogrin and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jane Hanlin who are prosecuting the case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.